# US 12,108,940 B2 · Apparatus for decontaminating equipment having internal channels (lumens) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,940 B2 - Document ID: US12108940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/924,361 - Filed: 2020-07-09 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: STERIS Inc. - Applicants: Steris Inc. - Inventors: Alain Chouinard; Louis Martineau; Nicolas Verreault; Maxime Robert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108940B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/125: {using fluid circuits} - A61B 1/00057: {provided with means for testing or calibration} - A61B 1/00059: {provided with identification means for the endoscope} - A61B 1/00119: {Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope} - A61B 1/00128: {mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes} - A61B 1/123: {using washing machines} - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - B08B 9/023: Cleaning the external surfaces {(B08B9/021 takes precedence)} - B08B 9/0323: {Arrangements specially designed for simultaneous and parallel cleaning of a plurality of conduits} - B08B 9/0325: {Control mechanisms therefor} - B08B 9/0328: {by purging the pipe with a gas or a mixture of gas and liquid} - G01M 3/02: by using fluid or vacuum - G01M 3/2853: {for pipe joints or seals (G01M3/30 takes precedence)} - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method of cleaning an endoscope in a computer-controlled washer/disinfector comprising the steps of connecting each lumen of an endoscope to a fluid distribution system for selectively conveying pressurized air or pressurized fluids through lumens in an endoscope; identifying the type of endoscope to be cleaned in said washer/disinfector; determining a blockage threshold flow coefficient for each lumen for said endoscope to be cleaned; pressurizing each lumen in said endoscope individually and determining an actual flow coefficient through said lumen; determining whether said endoscope is suitable for cleaning by comparing said actual flow coefficients for a lumen in said endoscope to said blockage threshold flow coefficient for said lumen; and determining whether a connection to a lumen in said endoscope is properly connected based upon said flow coefficient through said lumen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washer/disinfector for washing and disinfecting instruments, said washer including: a housing defining a chamber; spray arms disposed in said chamber, said spray arms for spraying a fluid in said chamber; a rack dimensioned to be received within said chamber for holding medical instruments to be washed and disinfected, said rack movable between a first position within said chamber and a second position extending from said chamber; an apparatus for testing and/or cleaning one or more channels or lumens in a medical instrument, the apparatus including one or more ports and a controller operatively coupled to the one or more ports; an elongated flexible connector having one or more passageways extending therethrough, said flexible connector having a first end connectable to said one or more ports and a second end connectable to one or more channels or lumens of a medical instrument in said rack, said flexible connector being movable with said rack as said rack moves between said first position and said second position, wherein said controller is configured to determine an individual flow coefficient through each channel or lumen in said medical instrument; determine a pair flow coefficient for a selected pair of channels or lumens; compare said pair flow coefficient for said selected pair to a sum of individual flow coefficients of the channels or lumens forming said pair; and determine said pair of channels or lumens merge when said pair flow coefficient for said selected pair is less than said sum of individual flow coefficients forming said pair. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medical instruments are endoscopes having a plurality of channels or lumens extending therethrough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector is an extrusion formed of a polymeric material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rack connector disposed on said rack, said rack connector connectable to a medical instrument in said rack, wherein the elongated flexible connector comprises a plurality of side-by-side passageways extending therethrough, said second end connectable to said rack connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of side-by-side passageways are arranged parallel to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongated flexible connector is formed as a ribbon structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated flexible connector includes elongated flexible rods extending along lateral sides of the elongated flexible connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elongated flexible rods bias the elongated flexible connector in a planar configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine said pair of channels or lumens are separate from one another when said pair flow coefficient for the selected pair and said sum of individual flow coefficients forming said pair are equal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: obtain a blockage threshold flow coefficient for each of the one or more channels or lumens; obtain an actual flow coefficient through each of the one or more channels or lumens; compare said actual flow coefficient for each of the one or more channels or lumens in said medical instrument to a respective blockage threshold flow coefficient for each of the one or more channels or lumens; and determine whether said medical instrument is suitable for cleaning based on said comparison of said actual flow coefficient for each of the one or more channels or lumens and the respective blockage threshold flow coefficient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to initiate a washing/decontaminating cycle if the actual flow coefficients obtained for the one or more channels or lumens in said medical instrument exceed the obtained -blockage threshold flow coefficient for the respective one or more channels or lumens. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to prevent initiation of a washing/decontaminating cycle if one of the actual flow coefficients obtained for the one or more channels or lumens in said medical instrument is below the obtained blockage threshold flow coefficient for the respective one or more channels or lumens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to determine said blockage threshold flow coefficient for each of the one or more channels or lumens of said medical instrument to be cleaned based on at least one of an identified type of medical instrument and an identification and operating characteristics stored in memory. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store in memory identification and operating characteristics. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to store at least one of a customer number or a serial number on said medical instrument as the identification information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to determine a purge time to purge fluid from said each of the one or more channels or lumens based upon a respective individual flow coefficient for the respective one or more channels of lumens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A washer/disinfector as claimed in claim 16, wherein said purge time (in seconds) equals 52500·Cv−1.15+2.